What you need to know concerning CCENT
Most candidates’ Cisco track is with CCENT or the ICND1 exam. This exam will give you your first Cisco certification. It also opens the door to your CCNA certification, which will open the doors to a career as a networker. This journey is worth it, you’ll get better jobs, promotions, and sweet salaries.
Cisco has significantly upgraded (and we mean Upgraded, we mean Complicated!) CCENT this year, making them prerequisites for most tracks. This is a clear indication that the current ICND1 exam and the program are not of ‘introduction’ quality.
The blueprint contains all the materials for the exam. However, it is worth noting that Cisco has increased the knowledge required for each of them. This includes TCP/IP and subnetting. You will need to be able to solve subnetting problems in a matter of seconds or they will steal too much of your time on the exam.
Some subjects, such as IPv6, VLANs and IVR, EIGRP, and OSPF, have been migrated from the CCNA curriculum in order to be included within the CCENT. These are the topics that were added or removed from the CCENT, originally published by Todd Lammle. Don’t panic.
Topics REMOVED From the CCENT March 2013:
Secure the network
Understanding the challenges of shared LANs
Switched LAN technology solves network problems
Wireless LAN
Cisco(r) SDM
Configuring serial Encapsulation
Enabling RIP
Topics ADDED To the ICND1 Examination:
Implementing VLSM
Scaling the network using NAT and PAT
ACLs for traffic management
Implementing VLANs or trunks
Routing between VLANs
Single-area OSPF implementation
Basic IPv6
Understanding IPv6
Configuring IPv6 Routing
This information is very useful to have in your mind when you go through the brain dumps and decide what you should spend more time on.
CCT – Could it be a stepping stone for you?
CCT (Cisco Certified Technie) is often overlooked among the other Cisco certifications. However, it is well worth taking a look at. It is distinct from other certifications because it has its own exams and is not comparable with CCENT/ICND1. This program is aimed at technicians who will be able to repair, restore, and replace critical Cisco networking devices and systems at customer sites. It works closely with Cisco Technical Assistance Centers (TAC).
Although CCT certification is not required for CCENT or CCNA certification, network experts may find it very useful to have this certification. CCT is less theoretical than CCNA and CCENT, but it is more hardware-oriented. It leaves its students with a solid understanding of Cisco products, which is crucial for a long-lasting career in Cisco.
This program can be used for several tracks and is tailored to your career goals. Cisco currently offers the following specialized CCTs.
Although not as sought-after as CCNA and CCENT, CCT is a good place for network experts to start. It will make it easier to pursue CCNA. CCT exams are easier than the ICND, according to those who have taken both certification exams.
If you are looking to give your career a boost but aren’t sure if your skills are up for the CCENT challenge then CCT could be the right choice. You could also consider CompTIA vendor neutral certifications if your goal is to get started. But that’s completely off-topic now.
What will it be for you? Will you get CCENT certified immediately or will you stop at CCT.
